George Santayana
"My atheism, like that of Spinoza, is true piety towards the universe and denies only gods fashioned by men in their own image, to be servants of
their human interests."

I truly believe it is not actually God that atheists are unable to muster belief in--it's likely that not many atheists or 'believers' truly
understand (as much as is presently possible in the human mind) the perfect fairness and love that would be impossible not to believe in--if known.

It's not God who is rejected--it is the God that man makes up that other men cannot accept.

Everyone deep down believes in SANTA CLAUSE. Not to believe in Santa Clause doesn't make any sense. How can someone just KNOW there is no
Santa Clause?!! I'm sorry but mythical beings and fairy tales DO exist.. and if you don't believe in them you are just lieing to yourself. No
wonder the tooth fairy ripped you off and you never got that pretty red bike.

This logic would apply to Theists too. How can anyone claim that they KNOW there IS a God.

All ANYONE can be is agnostic.

The theist versus a-theist debate is pointless. An atheist just believes belief in God is irrelevant anyway. Not something to argue over. Not sure why
someone would try to challenge that belief anyway. To validate the relevance of their own beliefs perhaps?

There truly are people who, according to them, KNOW there can be no God. I know from personal experience, I use to be one of them !!!

Originally posted by mr conspiracy

What they are trying to say is that they do not believe that there is a God.

They are not saying that they believe that there is no God.

This makes them no different from agnostics.

To say someone does not appear to be happy, is EXACTLY THE SAME as saying they appear to be unhappy.

I agree with Rant, the debate is pointless. Bewteen an atheist and a theist exists a black hole. One can do nothing to effect the other one's
position, however, each one has WITHIN THEMSELVES the power to get to the other side. Again, this too I know from personal experience, I'm the
chicken that crossed the road

Originally posted by BaastetNoir
So basically ...if things happened the way they want Atheists would believe in God.

Excellent point!

I think a basic difference between athiests and many 'religious' people is that atheists resist the pressure of society to 'fit in' by believing
in a god--and those who 'believe' in a god create their own that does things the way they want--so they will believe in him.

It seems that the atheists might have less inclination to deceive self for the sake of comfort.

Okay, I see what this guy is saying.. it's just thrown out into a couple of confusing sentences.

Yeah.. really everybody is just agnostics. On the other hand, this is the life we live and some choose to make the choice for whatever reasons to side
either science or religion, even though the act of SIDING with either is kind of illogical.

In the end everything is a paradox, and mabye logic isn't the best thing to use in order to understand.

I'm agnostic because I understand this. Most don't really think about it, and were raised a beliver or chose to be a non-beliver for whatever
reasons. (ex: Doesn't like the restrictions of religon)

Either way we can't really KNOW or not KNOW, but what is KNOWING anyways. Why does it matter in the end? As long as nobody uses these beliefs to hurt
or convert anybody, it's fine.

Originally posted by Jehosephat
A true atheist would have no concpet of the meaning behind the word God.

Neither would a true theist. It is an ill defined word who's meaning changes from person to person. If you really try to nail down it's meaning,
you will discover it is defined inconsistently, which is why it can mean anything anyone wants it to.

But yes, I am a True Atheist™, because I know god doesn't exist. How do I know? I have faith.

I always thought that an Atheist, is someone who chooses not to believe in God or gods, because God "doesnt do thing the way they want to" ...

Some Atheist expressions are

" If there is a God, why doesn't he do this..."

" If God exhists, why did he let this happen ..."

So basically ...if things happened the way they want Atheists would believe in God.

It's funny that I've NEVER heared this and I'm an atheist.. though I have heared the atypical explanations for atheism: "They just want to sin
without being punnished." [even though many christians seem to use 'forgiveness' as a licence to and to judge from some imaginary moral
highground]. So we don't believe in god because we don't get our own way? How can someone not believe in something despite it? That would be
admitting it exists by default so would mean they are not atheists.
I agree with others it's a pretty useless discussion except to attack atheists and question their motives and honesty.. which was the point to the
thread.

Now.. if anyone genuinely want to know.. the reason many atheists are atheists is because they find belief in god illogical [and needless]. The
universe is quite capable of existing without some old guy in the sky waving a finger to create a universe he depends on to exist in the first place..
personally I find the idea fanciful.

Now.. if anyone genuinely want to know.. the reason many atheists are atheists is because they find belief in god illogical [and needless]. The
universe is quite capable of existing without some old guy in the sky waving a finger to create a universe he depends on to exist in the first place..
personally I find the idea fanciful.

Dam I cant give you a vote toward the way above top secret award.
Of course there is such a thing as athiest Im a good example of a athiest.

All logic would suggest that a higher power dosnt exist . As for reglion well quite frankly it is just a method of controlling the masses and of
course people cant think for themselvs but thats another issue.

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